WORDS FOR THE FUTURE
By John Titor
INTRO
It is a mistake to give anyone your unwavering belief (see footnote 1)...but you will find that out yourself in 2005. There is a civil war in the United States that starts in 2005. None of the things I have said will be a surprise. They were set in motion ten, twenty, even thirty years ago (footnote 2). Are you really surprised to find out that Iraq has nukes now or is that just BS to whip everyone up into accepting the next war (footnote 3)? This becomes apparent around 2004 as civil unrest develops near the next presidential election. That conflict flares up and down for 10 years. I think the war would be good for you and your society. Yes, I suppose you could stop it, I don't want to stop it. [World War Three] is a result of faulty politics and desparation from Western leadership during the US civil war. I would characterize the intolerance you have here as a result of ignorance and fear. I have observed that people with unfounded and irrational fears about their fellow man in this time have the luxury of not having their beliefs tested. On my world line, if a man doesn't pull his weight in the community, then we feel prejudice towards him as a burden to us. This feeling of shame he experiences then makes him realize his responsibilities. I believe your society is biologically geared for self-destruction.
I do not have a secret agenda but I have been paying a great deal of attention to your worldline. My interaction with you was not a direct mission parameter but it was a secondary mission protocol based on standing orders given to all temporal drivers. That secondary objective is basically to gather as much information about a worldline based on a set of observable variables when we first arrive. Your worldline met those conditions. I don't believe that knowing a possible future makes it happen. You are capable of changing your worldline for the better right now.
Your worldline is about 2.5% different than mine. This is a roughly cumulative measurement based on my arrival in 1975. As far as I can tell right now, you are headed toward the same events I would call "my history" in 2036. However, the very nature of time travel states that every worldline is unique and you are very much in control of what you do and how you get there. Heck, the fact that I'm here makes it different from mine. However, I am not confident things are different enough for you to avoid the conflict. You may also consider the possibility that a world with no war is far less desirable in the long run. This is the world in 2015 by James Langton in "New York Global Trends, 2015 - Central Intelligence Agency" (footnote 4). Your assumptions about causality [from a Civil then nuclear war] are correct but my personal morality still comes into play. I won't deviate from my three rules because of the way I would feel about myself.
I am curious- will anyone be upset if Florida's votes [in the 2000 election] are not counted in the Electoral College because of the current "confusion"? I would use the word "elections" a bit cautiously (footnote 5). Perhaps its easier now to see a civil war in your future? [All] while you sit by and watch your Constitution being torn away from you (footnote 6), you willfully eat poisoned food, buy manufactured products no one needs and turn an uncaring eye away from millions of people suffering and dying all around you. Have you considered that your society might be better off if half of you were dead? Please take a look at the front cover of this month's Popular Mechanics because it's a great example of your legacy to 2036 after the war. One side of the cover it describes in great detail how your government is [al]ready spying on you (footnote 7). On the other side (and just as important) it tells you how to install a hot tub.
THE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR (CW II): 2004-2015
The civil war in the United States will start in 2004. I would define [the Civil War] as a conflict where organized groups engage in maneuver and armed conflict. Just for argument's sake, what do you think would happen if information were discovered that confirmed the worst accusations made against the law enforcement officers? There are a great many "non lethal" weapon systems in development that turn out to be quite lethal (footnote 8). Sometimes I watch your television programs that show SWAT teams using new non-lethal weapons. They usually start out with, "In the future, the army and police will fight its enemies with new weapons systems". When they use the word "enemy", they're talking about YOU! You don't really think the Marines are going to jump out of helicopters overseas with sticky goop (footnote 9), pepper spray and seizure lights (footnote 9a), do you? There are [currently] a great many "non lethal" weapon systems in development that turn out to be quite lethal. Anyone for microwave popcorn? (footnote 10)
The year 2008 was a general date by which time everyone will realize the world they thought they were living in was over, by 2008 the civil conflict is pretty much at everyone's doorstep. The first U.S. civil war lasted [from 2004-2008] and the English civil war lasted [from 2004-2010]. You must realize that why people are fighting is more important that what they are fighting with. The conflict was not about taking and holding ground, it was about order and rights. They were betting that people wanted security instead of freedom and they were wrong. When the civil "conflict" started and got worse, people generally decided to either stay in the cities and lose most of their civil rights under the guise of security or leave the cities for more isolated and rural areas. Our home was searched once and the neighbor across the street was arrested for some unknown reason. That convinced my father to leave the city. When the moment comes it will be absolutely plain as day that you are unsafe in the cities. The millions people that stay will choose to stay. That's what comes as a surprise. When the time comes, I'm sure people will find the signs they are looking for that leads them to the end of time.
On my world line in 2011, the United States is in the middle of a civil war that has dramatic effects on most of the other Western governments. I would describe it as having a Waco type event every month that steadily gets worse. Outright open fighting was common by then and I joined a shotgun infantry unit in 2011.
In my 2012, I was 14 years old spending most of my time living, running and hiding in the woods and rivers of central Florida. The civil war was in its 7th year and the world war was three years away. Yes, there are unusual events in 2012 but they do not cause the world to end. Unfortunately, I have decided not to discuss events that you or I can do anything about. It is important that they be a surprise. Perhaps you are familiar with the story of the Red Sea and the Egyptians? (footnote 11)
WORLD WAR THREE: 2015
The [Civil War] conflict will consume everyone in the US by 2012 and end in 2015 with a very short WWIII; western instability [led to] the civil war [which] ended in 2015 when Russia attacked the U.S. cities (our enemy), China and Europe. Russia's enemy in the United States is not you, the average person. Russia's enemy is the United States government. The "enemy" that was attacked by Russia in the U.S. was the forces of the government you live under right now.
Was the President in 2005 also on the enemy side? Was the President in 2009 on the enemy side? How did you feel personally about these Presidents? The President or "leader" in 2005 I believe tried desperately to be the next Lincoln and hold the country together but many of their policies drove a larger wedge into the Bill of Rights (footnote 12). The President in 2009 was interested only in keeping his/her power base. In my experience, evil may be powerful, but they aren't very bright.
In 2015, Russia launches a nuclear strike against the major cities in the United States (which is the "other side" of the civil war from my perspective), China and Europe. The United States counter attacks. The US cities are destroyed along with the AFE (American Federal Empire) (footnote 13)...thus we (in the country) won. The European Union and China were also destroyed. Russia is now our largest trading partner and the Capitol of the US was moved to Omaha Nebraska. When [the exact date the nuclear war] comes, it will not be a surprise.
Nuclear war will be very effective at destroying an enemy's economy and the people's will to fight. [A lot of the United States' 18-24 age group slaughtered in the war because of Draft.] WWIII is very short with a longer period of mop up. It's hard to say what the exact racial make up of the U.S is [in the future]. I would say it's probably the same minus 130 million people or so. [All told, on Earth we succeeded in wiping out the right three billion people.]
WORLD WAR III ABROAD
[Regarding the Arabs and Jews in the Middle East] Real disruptions in world events begin with the destabilization of the West as a result of degrading US foreign policy and consistency. This becomes apparent around 2004 as civil unrest develops near the next presidential election. [Arabs and Jews] are not directly involved but political situations are dependant on Western stability, which collapses in 2005. The Jewish population in Israel is not prepared for a true offensive war, they are prepared for the ultimate defense (footnote 14). Wavering western support for Israel is what gives Israel's neighbors the confidence to attack. The last resort for a defensive Israel and it's offensive Arab neighbors is to use weapons of mass destruction. In the grand scheme of things, the war in the middle-east is a part of what's to come, not the cause. [biological and nuclear weapons are used] [n]ot against America but they are used against each other. [EDITORS NOTE: America's direct involvement in the Middle East started two years later and continues today]. I'm glad to see it's so easy for to dismiss the Middle East .Yes, I suppose it is a no brainer but pretty soon it will be a "no arrmer" and a "no legger". (footnote 15)
[America's] attack on Europe is in response to a unified European army that masses and moves East from Germany [Poland, the Czech Republic and Austria share borders to the East]. I would caution against [saying it is a full-blown World War 3]. That's exactly what "they" want you to think while they continue to develop smaller and more accurate MIRVs. Have you ever seen a neutron bomb the size of a basketball?" (footnote 16)
[America] will become very unstable which gives China the confidence to "expand". I'm assuming you are all aware that China has millions of male soldiers right now that they know will never be able to find wives. I guess you could say that [Korea will be reunified]. Taiwan, Japan and Korea were all "forcefully annexed" before N Day. Russia and China have always had a very strange relationship. Even the news I see now indicates that continued weapons deals to allies, border clashes and overpopulation will lead to hostilities. [China's] ability to hit Western cities with missiles made a lot of people unhappy.
There were deep divisions in Australia also. I would associate it more with a powder keg than a civil war. Texas is still there but Spanish is a lot more popular. I believe the Amish are alive and well. South America went relatively unharmed. However, there is still a great deal of internal conflict with conventional arms. One of [the Pyramids in Egypt] was severely damaged. I've noticed that when most Americans think about Canada in this time, they think about pine trees, chooks and back-bacon. It may interest you to know that most Canadians in 2036 are some of the most efficient, ruthless and dangerous people I know. God help Quebec. There's not a great deal I know about Canada except to say they were pretty much in the same type of conflict. They did have the Dew Line you know. (footnote 17)
[The world] [t]emprature is about the same although there were anomalies after the war. The animal Kingdom is alive and well. I'm sure it suffered but there fewer people infringing on animal's habitats now. The ice caps are not melting any faster than they are now. There is also far less smog and industrial waste in 2036. You asked about the North Polar ice pack. I never said the environment wasn't a problem. Doesn't water expand when it freezes? If the polar ice cap melted, wouldn't sea level go down? I don't know if there's enough ice for this to make a difference and I'm not an expert on global warming.
In the future, sociologists spend a great of time discussing the collective mentality before the war that led to the demise of "Homo Materia". Many of them point to an experiment that was done in the 1970's or 1980's. The experiment isolated various sizes of rat populations in varying cage sizes with varying food and cleaning schedules. It was discovered that no matter what, there was a certain ratio of rats to space that once overtaken by population would always lead to aggressive and destructive behavior in the rats until enough of them had died or been killed to get back under the ratio. This was true even when the rats that were given plenty of food and had their cage cleaned every day. (footnote 18)
AMERICAN CITIES VS RURAL AREAS
Your enemy was in the cities. Take a close look at the county by county voting map from the last elections [to see which counties or states are safer than others] (footnote 19). [in regards to exactly who will be fighting who in American and the world] are you familiar with the Russian partisan movement in WWII? (footnote 20)
Mostly cities and large military areas in the entire country [were hit with nuclear weapons]. Cities become targets because of their military and economic value. Any large area supported by a civil infrastructure is likely to be on that list. The cities were not isolated because of [the resistance/militia]; they were isolated because of us. In my opinion, people "now" take clean water, electricity and their feeling of safety for granted. If they leave the city in search of fresh water they first have to make the realization that fresh water is a problem. It's much easier to demand someone else owes you fresh water than it is to leave the lifestyle that made it bad in the first place.
AMERICAN LIBERTIES
Civil liberties [become] more important. You will feel the same after having your house searched a couple of times. My definition of a patriot is anyone who defends the Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic. The people with the most to lose if the world changes [are the least trustworthy] -Camel through the eye of a needle? (footnote 21) I would submit to you that the law is only as good as the people's willingness to apply it evenly and swiftly. (footnote 22)
Throughout history, farmers have often been a target of oppression because they are absolutely necessary to civilization but too busy to defend themselves. If you push a farmer too far, they stop growing food and have nothing to do but hide in the woods and shoot back. The idea of a farmer general leaving his fields to lead his country's troops to victory is an old one going back, at least, to Roman times. Lucius Quintus Cincinnatus, I believe, was the gentleman's name, from the 5th Century B.C. Roman Republic. If you push a farmer too far, they stop growing food and have nothing to do but hide in the woods and shoot back. By that time, it was pretty clear that we were not going back to what we had and the division between the "cities" and the "country" was well defined. I believe it was a few days ago I saw a news story about potential problems with power that "might" affect the entire United States. Where do you think they'll turn it off first when push comes to shove?
POLITICAL FALLOUT FROM THE WAR
After the war, the United States had split into five separate regions based on the various factors and military objectives they each had. There was a great deal of anger directed toward the Federal government and a revival of states rights was becoming paramount. However, in their attempt to create an economic form of government, the political and military leaders at the time decided to hold one last Constitutional Congress in order to present a psychological cohesion from the old system. During this Congress, the leaders discovered and decided that coming up with a new and better form of government was nearly impossible. The original Constitution itself was not the problem it was the ignorance of the people that lived under it.
[in the future] [t]he office of President is far more diluted and decentralized than it is here. The powers of the national government are more defined and reside more at the county and state level.
In my opinion, the Gen Xr's (footnote 23) ended up in two categories. There were the ones who had learned to be independent by breaking away from tradition and societies expectations and the others who had no idea how to take care of themselves and just wanted the trains to run on time. The ones in the first group feel very guilty about "letting" the world go to Hell and the ones in the second group are dead.
For a few months now, I have been trying to alert anyone that would listen to the possibility of a civil war in the United States in 2005. I refer to a historical example. Before Pearl Harbor was attacked in 1941, a small group of US soldiers were experimenting with a new technology called RADAR. As the Japanese planes were flying toward the island, they actually picked them up in time to thwart the surprise attack. Unfortunately, they were unfamiliar with the equipment and figured it wasn't working correctly. As you are aware, the ruthlessness of the Japanese "sneak" attack galvanized the US people into entering WWII. [The conflict is not radical in any way.] In fact, I would say it goes a long way toward erasing racial problems. [No one leads a reasonably normal life during the civil war.] [The enemy] will be the ones arresting and holding people without due process.
[Drugs are] not really an issue of the government letting you do something, It's more like they have other things to worry about. Don't you feel you're capable of taking care of yourself? If you want to take mood-altering drugs, why should my opinions stop you from that? They don't stop you from taking alcohol, tobacco or fast food. [The police will stop busting people for smoking weed] about the same time they stop coming to your house when you dial 911.
TECHNOLOGY IN THE FUTURE
Technology is not gone in 2036 nor is it the private domain of "government" leaders. Computer printers just didn't work very well on 12 volts and many people just got used to doing things the old way (footnote 24). After the war, the main problem was distribution. Can anyone tell me how many companies in the United States still manufacture bicycle tires today? Anyone who still has a bike in 2008 will find out. (footnote 25)Horses are good [for transportation] if you can feed and water them. Also, it's very hard to eat a bicycle.
Yes, EMP took out a great number of electronic devices. That's one of the reasons why we don't have reliable technology laying around (footnote 26). However, in the opening hours of N Day, the Russians did not launch any high altitude detonations. They knew we would most likely clean up after them so they wanted everyone outside the cities to be able to communicate. Most of the warheads that hit the cities came in threes and exploded close to the ground. The heavy EMP damage was isolated to those areas.
Main communication systems [are gone in the future], CB, sideband and non-repeating short-wave [are still in use].
Although [the time machine specs] were printed from a computer printer, is it really that hard to believe that manual typing is just a bit more common in thirty years? After the war, many things like manual printing machines, bicycles, sailboats and hand tools were valued a great deal. I have noticed more people in California are installing wood burning stoves.
The air is about the same although I do smell and taste industrial odors here my parents cannot. The food in the future is grown and raised naturally inside the community structure. This is done primarily for safety reasons. I am amazed at the risks people here are willing to take with processed food. All of the food I eat here is grown and prepared by myself or my family. Unfortunately, I do not know if we are acquainted on my worldline. Yes, love is a challenge. What's harder is knowing you could go back and correct a mistake but at the cost of the "you" on that worldline you want to live your life over again on.
Actually, you will probably be quite impressed with our internet. It's based on a series of independent, self-powered nodes that are mobile and can be put up anywhere (footnote 27). It looks a great deal like your current cell phone system. Yes, there is an entertainment industry. Again, it is very decentralized. The technology to express yourself with video is so readily available that many people do it all by themselves or in small groups. Much of the distribution is over the web. I would compare it theater here. Books and other literature are available but most of the distribution is via the net. (footnote 28)
[Propane still around in the future,] but not very much of it comes from natural gas. Hydrogen is converted into propane because it's easier to handle. (footnote 29)
[As far as a safe distance from a nuclear attack] A 10 Kiloton nuclear weapon will vaporize metal for about a mile and have a heat effect for about 3 miles. A 100 Megaton nuclear weapon will vaporize metal to 35 miles and have a heat effect to about 250 miles. I believe the largest nuclear weapon ever built and tested was about 60 megatons. As I recall, the popular strategy toady is to strike targets with multiple numbers of smaller warheads. The 100 Kt to 1 Mt are the most popular. I believe there are about 150 - 200 major cities in the US and half as many military targets. [People will die in this order] Starvation - Disease - Bullet Wounds - Radiation.
Biological warfare and accidents do cause a great deal of problems but the lack of a working infrastructure also hinders the continuation of the food manufacturing you depend on now.
JOHN TITOR'S FINAL WORDS
[Titor's first post on his last day of posting]
In the last few days I have found your choice of topics quite interesting and from an objective viewpoint I think it collectively answers one of your own questions, "If time travel is real, where are all the time travelers"? In the past, I have stated that quite frankly, you all scare the Hell out of me and I'm sure other temporal drivers would feel the same. But now I have an expanded explanation with two examples. A while ago (on one of the posts), I related an experience I had with my parents while we were driving down a highway. Every now and then, we would pass someone who was in obvious distress with their vehicle. I was amazed that so many people could pass them by without stopping to help. Their explanation was fear. The risk of helping someone was too great and with today's technology, they probably had a cell phone anyway. If they didn't, the walk to a gas station would be good for them and teach them a lesson for running out of gas. The other example is the plight of the homeless. When you pass them as individuals on the street I see the way people selectively choose an alternate path to avoid them. Those two examples best define why time travelers do not show themselves. In trying to help you, we put ourselves a[t] great risk and there's really no point to it. We know the nature of time dictates that traveling between "exact" worldlines is impossible. Therefore, the only results we will see will be the ones we stay to see. Since worldlines, outcomes and events are infinite, we have better things to do. When I arrive in the "new" 1998 worldline on my way home I could easily start all of this again and continue to go through the same conversations with all of the same people. However, I already know you won't pay any attention or believe me because we've already been through it on this worldline. Besides, I think the walk to the gas station will do you some good.
[Titor's last words on this chatlog]
Bring a gas can with you when the car dies on the side of the road.
By John Titor
INTRO
It is a mistake to give anyone your unwavering belief (see footnote 1)...but you will find that out yourself in 2005. There is a civil war in the United States that starts in 2005. None of the things I have said will be a surprise. They were set in motion ten, twenty, even thirty years ago (footnote 2). Are you really surprised to find out that Iraq has nukes now or is that just BS to whip everyone up into accepting the next war (footnote 3)? This becomes apparent around 2004 as civil unrest develops near the next presidential election. That conflict flares up and down for 10 years. I think the war would be good for you and your society. Yes, I suppose you could stop it, I don't want to stop it. [World War Three] is a result of faulty politics and desparation from Western leadership during the US civil war. I would characterize the intolerance you have here as a result of ignorance and fear. I have observed that people with unfounded and irrational fears about their fellow man in this time have the luxury of not having their beliefs tested. On my world line, if a man doesn't pull his weight in the community, then we feel prejudice towards him as a burden to us. This feeling of shame he experiences then makes him realize his responsibilities. I believe your society is biologically geared for self-destruction.
I do not have a secret agenda but I have been paying a great deal of attention to your worldline. My interaction with you was not a direct mission parameter but it was a secondary mission protocol based on standing orders given to all temporal drivers. That secondary objective is basically to gather as much information about a worldline based on a set of observable variables when we first arrive. Your worldline met those conditions. I don't believe that knowing a possible future makes it happen. You are capable of changing your worldline for the better right now.
Your worldline is about 2.5% different than mine. This is a roughly cumulative measurement based on my arrival in 1975. As far as I can tell right now, you are headed toward the same events I would call "my history" in 2036. However, the very nature of time travel states that every worldline is unique and you are very much in control of what you do and how you get there. Heck, the fact that I'm here makes it different from mine. However, I am not confident things are different enough for you to avoid the conflict. You may also consider the possibility that a world with no war is far less desirable in the long run. This is the world in 2015 by James Langton in "New York Global Trends, 2015 - Central Intelligence Agency" (footnote 4). Your assumptions about causality [from a Civil then nuclear war] are correct but my personal morality still comes into play. I won't deviate from my three rules because of the way I would feel about myself.
I am curious- will anyone be upset if Florida's votes [in the 2000 election] are not counted in the Electoral College because of the current "confusion"? I would use the word "elections" a bit cautiously (footnote 5). Perhaps its easier now to see a civil war in your future? [All] while you sit by and watch your Constitution being torn away from you (footnote 6), you willfully eat poisoned food, buy manufactured products no one needs and turn an uncaring eye away from millions of people suffering and dying all around you. Have you considered that your society might be better off if half of you were dead? Please take a look at the front cover of this month's Popular Mechanics because it's a great example of your legacy to 2036 after the war. One side of the cover it describes in great detail how your government is [al]ready spying on you (footnote 7). On the other side (and just as important) it tells you how to install a hot tub.
THE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR (CW II): 2004-2015
The civil war in the United States will start in 2004. I would define [the Civil War] as a conflict where organized groups engage in maneuver and armed conflict. Just for argument's sake, what do you think would happen if information were discovered that confirmed the worst accusations made against the law enforcement officers? There are a great many "non lethal" weapon systems in development that turn out to be quite lethal (footnote 8). Sometimes I watch your television programs that show SWAT teams using new non-lethal weapons. They usually start out with, "In the future, the army and police will fight its enemies with new weapons systems". When they use the word "enemy", they're talking about YOU! You don't really think the Marines are going to jump out of helicopters overseas with sticky goop (footnote 9), pepper spray and seizure lights (footnote 9a), do you? There are [currently] a great many "non lethal" weapon systems in development that turn out to be quite lethal. Anyone for microwave popcorn? (footnote 10)
The year 2008 was a general date by which time everyone will realize the world they thought they were living in was over, by 2008 the civil conflict is pretty much at everyone's doorstep. The first U.S. civil war lasted [from 2004-2008] and the English civil war lasted [from 2004-2010]. You must realize that why people are fighting is more important that what they are fighting with. The conflict was not about taking and holding ground, it was about order and rights. They were betting that people wanted security instead of freedom and they were wrong. When the civil "conflict" started and got worse, people generally decided to either stay in the cities and lose most of their civil rights under the guise of security or leave the cities for more isolated and rural areas. Our home was searched once and the neighbor across the street was arrested for some unknown reason. That convinced my father to leave the city. When the moment comes it will be absolutely plain as day that you are unsafe in the cities. The millions people that stay will choose to stay. That's what comes as a surprise. When the time comes, I'm sure people will find the signs they are looking for that leads them to the end of time.
On my world line in 2011, the United States is in the middle of a civil war that has dramatic effects on most of the other Western governments. I would describe it as having a Waco type event every month that steadily gets worse. Outright open fighting was common by then and I joined a shotgun infantry unit in 2011.
In my 2012, I was 14 years old spending most of my time living, running and hiding in the woods and rivers of central Florida. The civil war was in its 7th year and the world war was three years away. Yes, there are unusual events in 2012 but they do not cause the world to end. Unfortunately, I have decided not to discuss events that you or I can do anything about. It is important that they be a surprise. Perhaps you are familiar with the story of the Red Sea and the Egyptians? (footnote 11)
WORLD WAR THREE: 2015
The [Civil War] conflict will consume everyone in the US by 2012 and end in 2015 with a very short WWIII; western instability [led to] the civil war [which] ended in 2015 when Russia attacked the U.S. cities (our enemy), China and Europe. Russia's enemy in the United States is not you, the average person. Russia's enemy is the United States government. The "enemy" that was attacked by Russia in the U.S. was the forces of the government you live under right now.
Was the President in 2005 also on the enemy side? Was the President in 2009 on the enemy side? How did you feel personally about these Presidents? The President or "leader" in 2005 I believe tried desperately to be the next Lincoln and hold the country together but many of their policies drove a larger wedge into the Bill of Rights (footnote 12). The President in 2009 was interested only in keeping his/her power base. In my experience, evil may be powerful, but they aren't very bright.
In 2015, Russia launches a nuclear strike against the major cities in the United States (which is the "other side" of the civil war from my perspective), China and Europe. The United States counter attacks. The US cities are destroyed along with the AFE (American Federal Empire) (footnote 13)...thus we (in the country) won. The European Union and China were also destroyed. Russia is now our largest trading partner and the Capitol of the US was moved to Omaha Nebraska. When [the exact date the nuclear war] comes, it will not be a surprise.
Nuclear war will be very effective at destroying an enemy's economy and the people's will to fight. [A lot of the United States' 18-24 age group slaughtered in the war because of Draft.] WWIII is very short with a longer period of mop up. It's hard to say what the exact racial make up of the U.S is [in the future]. I would say it's probably the same minus 130 million people or so. [All told, on Earth we succeeded in wiping out the right three billion people.]
WORLD WAR III ABROAD
[Regarding the Arabs and Jews in the Middle East] Real disruptions in world events begin with the destabilization of the West as a result of degrading US foreign policy and consistency. This becomes apparent around 2004 as civil unrest develops near the next presidential election. [Arabs and Jews] are not directly involved but political situations are dependant on Western stability, which collapses in 2005. The Jewish population in Israel is not prepared for a true offensive war, they are prepared for the ultimate defense (footnote 14). Wavering western support for Israel is what gives Israel's neighbors the confidence to attack. The last resort for a defensive Israel and it's offensive Arab neighbors is to use weapons of mass destruction. In the grand scheme of things, the war in the middle-east is a part of what's to come, not the cause. [biological and nuclear weapons are used] [n]ot against America but they are used against each other. [EDITORS NOTE: America's direct involvement in the Middle East started two years later and continues today]. I'm glad to see it's so easy for to dismiss the Middle East .Yes, I suppose it is a no brainer but pretty soon it will be a "no arrmer" and a "no legger". (footnote 15)
[America's] attack on Europe is in response to a unified European army that masses and moves East from Germany [Poland, the Czech Republic and Austria share borders to the East]. I would caution against [saying it is a full-blown World War 3]. That's exactly what "they" want you to think while they continue to develop smaller and more accurate MIRVs. Have you ever seen a neutron bomb the size of a basketball?" (footnote 16)
[America] will become very unstable which gives China the confidence to "expand". I'm assuming you are all aware that China has millions of male soldiers right now that they know will never be able to find wives. I guess you could say that [Korea will be reunified]. Taiwan, Japan and Korea were all "forcefully annexed" before N Day. Russia and China have always had a very strange relationship. Even the news I see now indicates that continued weapons deals to allies, border clashes and overpopulation will lead to hostilities. [China's] ability to hit Western cities with missiles made a lot of people unhappy.
There were deep divisions in Australia also. I would associate it more with a powder keg than a civil war. Texas is still there but Spanish is a lot more popular. I believe the Amish are alive and well. South America went relatively unharmed. However, there is still a great deal of internal conflict with conventional arms. One of [the Pyramids in Egypt] was severely damaged. I've noticed that when most Americans think about Canada in this time, they think about pine trees, chooks and back-bacon. It may interest you to know that most Canadians in 2036 are some of the most efficient, ruthless and dangerous people I know. God help Quebec. There's not a great deal I know about Canada except to say they were pretty much in the same type of conflict. They did have the Dew Line you know. (footnote 17)
[The world] [t]emprature is about the same although there were anomalies after the war. The animal Kingdom is alive and well. I'm sure it suffered but there fewer people infringing on animal's habitats now. The ice caps are not melting any faster than they are now. There is also far less smog and industrial waste in 2036. You asked about the North Polar ice pack. I never said the environment wasn't a problem. Doesn't water expand when it freezes? If the polar ice cap melted, wouldn't sea level go down? I don't know if there's enough ice for this to make a difference and I'm not an expert on global warming.
In the future, sociologists spend a great of time discussing the collective mentality before the war that led to the demise of "Homo Materia". Many of them point to an experiment that was done in the 1970's or 1980's. The experiment isolated various sizes of rat populations in varying cage sizes with varying food and cleaning schedules. It was discovered that no matter what, there was a certain ratio of rats to space that once overtaken by population would always lead to aggressive and destructive behavior in the rats until enough of them had died or been killed to get back under the ratio. This was true even when the rats that were given plenty of food and had their cage cleaned every day. (footnote 18)
AMERICAN CITIES VS RURAL AREAS
Your enemy was in the cities. Take a close look at the county by county voting map from the last elections [to see which counties or states are safer than others] (footnote 19). [in regards to exactly who will be fighting who in American and the world] are you familiar with the Russian partisan movement in WWII? (footnote 20)
Mostly cities and large military areas in the entire country [were hit with nuclear weapons]. Cities become targets because of their military and economic value. Any large area supported by a civil infrastructure is likely to be on that list. The cities were not isolated because of [the resistance/militia]; they were isolated because of us. In my opinion, people "now" take clean water, electricity and their feeling of safety for granted. If they leave the city in search of fresh water they first have to make the realization that fresh water is a problem. It's much easier to demand someone else owes you fresh water than it is to leave the lifestyle that made it bad in the first place.
AMERICAN LIBERTIES
Civil liberties [become] more important. You will feel the same after having your house searched a couple of times. My definition of a patriot is anyone who defends the Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic. The people with the most to lose if the world changes [are the least trustworthy] -Camel through the eye of a needle? (footnote 21) I would submit to you that the law is only as good as the people's willingness to apply it evenly and swiftly. (footnote 22)
Throughout history, farmers have often been a target of oppression because they are absolutely necessary to civilization but too busy to defend themselves. If you push a farmer too far, they stop growing food and have nothing to do but hide in the woods and shoot back. The idea of a farmer general leaving his fields to lead his country's troops to victory is an old one going back, at least, to Roman times. Lucius Quintus Cincinnatus, I believe, was the gentleman's name, from the 5th Century B.C. Roman Republic. If you push a farmer too far, they stop growing food and have nothing to do but hide in the woods and shoot back. By that time, it was pretty clear that we were not going back to what we had and the division between the "cities" and the "country" was well defined. I believe it was a few days ago I saw a news story about potential problems with power that "might" affect the entire United States. Where do you think they'll turn it off first when push comes to shove?
POLITICAL FALLOUT FROM THE WAR
After the war, the United States had split into five separate regions based on the various factors and military objectives they each had. There was a great deal of anger directed toward the Federal government and a revival of states rights was becoming paramount. However, in their attempt to create an economic form of government, the political and military leaders at the time decided to hold one last Constitutional Congress in order to present a psychological cohesion from the old system. During this Congress, the leaders discovered and decided that coming up with a new and better form of government was nearly impossible. The original Constitution itself was not the problem it was the ignorance of the people that lived under it.
[in the future] [t]he office of President is far more diluted and decentralized than it is here. The powers of the national government are more defined and reside more at the county and state level.
In my opinion, the Gen Xr's (footnote 23) ended up in two categories. There were the ones who had learned to be independent by breaking away from tradition and societies expectations and the others who had no idea how to take care of themselves and just wanted the trains to run on time. The ones in the first group feel very guilty about "letting" the world go to Hell and the ones in the second group are dead.
For a few months now, I have been trying to alert anyone that would listen to the possibility of a civil war in the United States in 2005. I refer to a historical example. Before Pearl Harbor was attacked in 1941, a small group of US soldiers were experimenting with a new technology called RADAR. As the Japanese planes were flying toward the island, they actually picked them up in time to thwart the surprise attack. Unfortunately, they were unfamiliar with the equipment and figured it wasn't working correctly. As you are aware, the ruthlessness of the Japanese "sneak" attack galvanized the US people into entering WWII. [The conflict is not radical in any way.] In fact, I would say it goes a long way toward erasing racial problems. [No one leads a reasonably normal life during the civil war.] [The enemy] will be the ones arresting and holding people without due process.
[Drugs are] not really an issue of the government letting you do something, It's more like they have other things to worry about. Don't you feel you're capable of taking care of yourself? If you want to take mood-altering drugs, why should my opinions stop you from that? They don't stop you from taking alcohol, tobacco or fast food. [The police will stop busting people for smoking weed] about the same time they stop coming to your house when you dial 911.
TECHNOLOGY IN THE FUTURE
Technology is not gone in 2036 nor is it the private domain of "government" leaders. Computer printers just didn't work very well on 12 volts and many people just got used to doing things the old way (footnote 24). After the war, the main problem was distribution. Can anyone tell me how many companies in the United States still manufacture bicycle tires today? Anyone who still has a bike in 2008 will find out. (footnote 25)Horses are good [for transportation] if you can feed and water them. Also, it's very hard to eat a bicycle.
Yes, EMP took out a great number of electronic devices. That's one of the reasons why we don't have reliable technology laying around (footnote 26). However, in the opening hours of N Day, the Russians did not launch any high altitude detonations. They knew we would most likely clean up after them so they wanted everyone outside the cities to be able to communicate. Most of the warheads that hit the cities came in threes and exploded close to the ground. The heavy EMP damage was isolated to those areas.
Main communication systems [are gone in the future], CB, sideband and non-repeating short-wave [are still in use].
Although [the time machine specs] were printed from a computer printer, is it really that hard to believe that manual typing is just a bit more common in thirty years? After the war, many things like manual printing machines, bicycles, sailboats and hand tools were valued a great deal. I have noticed more people in California are installing wood burning stoves.
The air is about the same although I do smell and taste industrial odors here my parents cannot. The food in the future is grown and raised naturally inside the community structure. This is done primarily for safety reasons. I am amazed at the risks people here are willing to take with processed food. All of the food I eat here is grown and prepared by myself or my family. Unfortunately, I do not know if we are acquainted on my worldline. Yes, love is a challenge. What's harder is knowing you could go back and correct a mistake but at the cost of the "you" on that worldline you want to live your life over again on.
Actually, you will probably be quite impressed with our internet. It's based on a series of independent, self-powered nodes that are mobile and can be put up anywhere (footnote 27). It looks a great deal like your current cell phone system. Yes, there is an entertainment industry. Again, it is very decentralized. The technology to express yourself with video is so readily available that many people do it all by themselves or in small groups. Much of the distribution is over the web. I would compare it theater here. Books and other literature are available but most of the distribution is via the net. (footnote 28)
[Propane still around in the future,] but not very much of it comes from natural gas. Hydrogen is converted into propane because it's easier to handle. (footnote 29)
[As far as a safe distance from a nuclear attack] A 10 Kiloton nuclear weapon will vaporize metal for about a mile and have a heat effect for about 3 miles. A 100 Megaton nuclear weapon will vaporize metal to 35 miles and have a heat effect to about 250 miles. I believe the largest nuclear weapon ever built and tested was about 60 megatons. As I recall, the popular strategy toady is to strike targets with multiple numbers of smaller warheads. The 100 Kt to 1 Mt are the most popular. I believe there are about 150 - 200 major cities in the US and half as many military targets. [People will die in this order] Starvation - Disease - Bullet Wounds - Radiation.
Biological warfare and accidents do cause a great deal of problems but the lack of a working infrastructure also hinders the continuation of the food manufacturing you depend on now.
JOHN TITOR'S FINAL WORDS
[Titor's first post on his last day of posting]
In the last few days I have found your choice of topics quite interesting and from an objective viewpoint I think it collectively answers one of your own questions, "If time travel is real, where are all the time travelers"? In the past, I have stated that quite frankly, you all scare the Hell out of me and I'm sure other temporal drivers would feel the same. But now I have an expanded explanation with two examples. A while ago (on one of the posts), I related an experience I had with my parents while we were driving down a highway. Every now and then, we would pass someone who was in obvious distress with their vehicle. I was amazed that so many people could pass them by without stopping to help. Their explanation was fear. The risk of helping someone was too great and with today's technology, they probably had a cell phone anyway. If they didn't, the walk to a gas station would be good for them and teach them a lesson for running out of gas. The other example is the plight of the homeless. When you pass them as individuals on the street I see the way people selectively choose an alternate path to avoid them. Those two examples best define why time travelers do not show themselves. In trying to help you, we put ourselves a[t] great risk and there's really no point to it. We know the nature of time dictates that traveling between "exact" worldlines is impossible. Therefore, the only results we will see will be the ones we stay to see. Since worldlines, outcomes and events are infinite, we have better things to do. When I arrive in the "new" 1998 worldline on my way home I could easily start all of this again and continue to go through the same conversations with all of the same people. However, I already know you won't pay any attention or believe me because we've already been through it on this worldline. Besides, I think the walk to the gas station will do you some good.
[Titor's last words on this chatlog]
Bring a gas can with you when the car dies on the side of the road.
